Note: This is a retroactive roundup I assembled in December 2011 to capture every monthly recap from our first year in the new house. I like details, so here’s what we accomplished in February—presented like a high school yearbook of DIY and home decorating highlights.
Coupon-Lovingest: This post about how I save money by cutting coupons and squeezing small savings into our household budget.
Sneakiest: Our drywall protection trick—using tape to catch dust during renovations—outlined in detail here. A simple, low-cost fix for cleaner DIY projects.
Most Mischievous: Painting an old glass lampshade turquoise while John went for a run—one of those quick, playful updates that add personality to a room.
Best Picture Ever Taken: This post about finding a resin ram at TJ Maxx—featuring a perfect shot of Burger doing yoga behind it. A candid moment that captures the humor of thrifting decor.
Most Flabbergasting: Seeing our name announced as winners of Apartment Therapy’s Best Home Design Blog of 2011. We were equal parts honored and stunned—what an incredible recognition for our DIY and design posts.
Favorite $2.80 Project Ever: Gray-washing the living room beam with a light dry-brush technique and a $2.80 test can of paint—proof that small investments can make a big aesthetic difference.
Most Fowl: This thrift-store goose (yes, fowl and goose) found alongside a quatrefoil tray. We planned to repaint it bright and shiny—another charming thrift flip in the making.
Most Magpie-ish: Eyeing a handful of shiny metallic paint colors for the living room ceiling—because sometimes a touch of metallic elevates the entire space.
Most Words About Finding A Table Ever Written: Our exhaustive table hunt narrative, chronicling the long search that finally ended in triumph. A customer’s guide to perseverance when hunting for the right dining table.
Most Alarming: Realizing my mom and stepdad were visiting at month’s end and that our guest room still looked unprepared. Cue the last-minute makeover panic.
Most Delayed Post: This tutorial on upgrading a 40-cent Goodwill platter with decorative paper—shared more than two months late, but still useful for inexpensive decor updates.
Best Score: Finding two secondhand chairs for $35 each—a steal compared to similar retail options. Thrift finds like this can seriously upgrade your space on a budget.
Most Likely To Look Miniscule: Our console table from the first house looked tiny in the new, larger entryway—so we relocated it to the hallway and began planning a large gallery wall to balance the space.
Most Well Rounded: Our chunky, curvy dining table—a welcoming centerpiece that comfortably seats family and guests.
Least Afraid Of Moth Balls: Me, when thrifting—especially for finds like this $4 mirror. I’ll take a little dust and spiderwebs for a great vintage piece.
Most Thrifty: This post detailing how we picked up 23 items for $98 during a family beach trip—proof that smart thrifting yields style for less.
Most Burger-licious: This chihuahua-filled post showing where Burger likes to lounge in the new house and how he adjusted to the move—cute pet moments that make a home feel lived-in.
Most Brown-Nosing: For extra credit in a quick guest-room spruce, we painted the walls—after priming the room thoroughly—because guests deserve a polished space.
Most Shocking: Painting our guest room a deep, moody teal. We were surprised by how much personality the bold color added, and the post includes a video showing how to cut in without painter’s tape.
Most Likely To Put You To Sleep: Our new guest room mattress, which we researched thoroughly to ensure a comfortable night for visitors.
Most Appreciated: Making the guest bathroom usable by replacing the shower head and toilet seat and adding basic amenities like a curtain and bath mat—small updates that make visitors feel welcome.
Most In-Progress: Our guest bedroom after a major furniture shuffle—new curtains, an old rug, leftover chairs—waiting for final tweaks before hosting family.
Most Chipper: The finished, bold, and happy guest bedroom. It still needs a few finishing touches—art and some permanent furnishings—but it was ready to welcome guests. We also showed how we made a luggage-rack side table in that post.
Most Shower-Ready: The guest bathroom that’s not perfect but is practical and welcoming, equipped with a new shower curtain, bath mat, and small finishing touches for visitors’ comfort.
Most Proud: Sharing our favorite Richmond places to eat, shop, thrift, and hang out. We celebrated local spots that make our city feel like home.
Most Likely To Result In A “One Night Stand” Joke: This post about temporarily swapping out bedside tables for impromptu nightstands—sometimes practical solutions have a sense of humor.
